THE MOOSE. — THE COAT. — HABITS. 75 



economy of the animal. There is no gland or tuft of hair on the 

 outside of the hind leg, but on the inside of the back is a small 

 gland covered with a tuft of black hair occupying a horizontal 

 position. 



THE COAT. 



The summer coat of the Moose is of soft, fine, firm hair, 

 while the winter coat, which is at first short, fine, and glossy, as 

 the season advances becomes coarse, open, and spory, non-elastic 

 and rather fragile, though never as much so as those on several of 

 the other species. During the winter the Moose has an abun- 

 dant undercoat of fur. 



The early winter coat on the Moose when in the prime of life 

 may be said in general to be black. Toward spring it fades very 

 considerably, more on the aged than on the younger specimens. 

 When the Moose has passed his prime, he loses that glossy bril- 

 liancy which once distinguished him, and the color degenerates to 

 a dirty gray, especially in old age. 



HABITS. 



The rutting season of the Moose, at least in the lower latitudes, 

 commences in September, although the females do not reciprocate 

 till October ; and during the interval the bucks are almost be- 

 side themselves with passion and are avoided by the females. 

 At the proper time the female seeks a companion, when they 

 retire to some secluded spot and spend the honeymoon together, 

 quite contented in each other's society unless disturbed by some 

 intruder. They are more strictly monogamic in their habits than 

 any other of our deer, or indeed most other quadrupeds. 



In this respect it resembles the roe deer ( Capreolas dorcas) of 

 Europe, although it is not as constant in its conjugal relations as 

 the roe deer. These continue constant through life, manifesting 

 throughout the year the same affection for each other, both 

 parents devoting themselves with equal fidelity to the charge of 

 their young, while the constancy of the Moose is limited to a 

 single season and during the rut. Still this is a great improve- 

 ment on the beastly habit of our elk, wapiti, which goes to the 

 other extreme, as we shall hereafter see. 



